"He is good; His love (toward Israel) endures forever."

I am on a cycling trip this week. After a long day of riding (61km) I am going to sneak in some time to write this blog.

I was reading through the book of Ezra this morning. "Ezra’s purpose was to accurately record the events of the return from the Babylonian exile, after a seventy-year period and the events that surround the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. God is faithful in fulfilling His promises and so the Jews return to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon." (from Ezra Summary - biblehub.com)

What struck me this time is a familiar saying in the Old Testament: "He is good; His love (toward Israel) endures forever." It appeared 3 times in the Books of Chronicles and 4 times in Psalms. In Ezra 3:11: With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:
“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

This is the situation when God's people, under tremendous pressure and difficulties, finally laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The celebration was equally great. The text further described the scene:
" But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away." (Ezra 3:12-13)

I was reflecting on this. Those of us who have witnessed God's greatness at some point in our lives, when once again see God's gracious hand at work, can't help but shed tears of joy. It is right for us to express our gratitude in whatever way we can - shout if it is appropriate.

And this would be our praise - both now and forever more:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalms 107:1)

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever." (2 Chronicles 7:3)